21: Chapter 21 The Uninvited Guest

She raised the fruit to her mouth again, took another bite, chewed it up, and swallowed.

Then continued watching the spectacle.

Outside the stone cave stood the Clan Chief, his three sons, and Hu Ya.

But among the four, only Hu Ya wore a smile on her face.

She seemed oblivious to the Clan Chief's anger, her face still beaming with joy, 'Clan Chief, I will treat Xin Shan and Xin Yu well from now on.'

The Clan Chief snorted heavily. Perhaps sensing Bai Wanwan's presence, he turned his head, the fury in his eyes not yet receding.

Even Bai Wanwan received a glare from him.

Bai Wanwan was taken aback, the fruit in her hand suddenly losing its appeal.

How dare this old thing glare at her? She hadn't even settled the score with him yet!

Her eyes darted. After gnawing off the last bit of flesh from the fruit, she swaggered over to stand before the several Beastmen.

Seeing her approach, Hu Ya was about to boast to her, but Bai Wanwan spoke first.

'Oh, you've gained two more Beast Husbands in one go?'

Her words stabbed directly at the Clan Chief's sore spot, his face turning even darker.

But Bai Wanwan acted as if she didn't notice, turning her head to look at him.

Her smiling eyes curved, 'Clan Chief, congratulations, congratulations. Xin Shan and Xin Yu have finally completed their Pairing Ceremony with Hu Ya. Why aren't you smiling? Are you unhappy?'

Her feigned ignorance was like adding fuel to the fire.

If it were any other Female, the Clan Chief would have already unceremoniously moved to discipline her.

But she was the Sacred Female, the only Sacred Female the Cat Clan Tribe had seen in centuries.

Since she didn't want his two Cubs as Beast Husbands, then she could just bear Cubs for the other warriors of the Cat Clan. Keep bearing them until she couldn't bear any more.

By then, their Cat Clan Tribe would surely become glorious and powerful!

'Hmph!'

The Clan Chief didn't utter another unnecessary word. With a heavy snort, he turned and left.

After driving the Clan Chief away in anger, Bai Wanwan retracted her gaze, crossed her arms over her chest, and faced Hu Ya.

Hu Ya's face was full of smug pride.

'Bai Wanwan, from now on, Xin Shan and Xin Yu are my Beast Husbands. You stay away from them.'

She couldn't wait to assert her dominance. Ever since Bai Wanwan became the Sacred Female, nothing had gone smoothly for her.

This time, she had finally won a round.

'Fine. I won't go near them, and you don't go near Xin Feng either. I can do it, but can you?'

Bai Wanwan shot her a sidelong glance, then turned and walked away.

Hu Ya thought she was jealous, her face brimming with smugness. 'Bai Wanwan, I know you're very angry. But no matter how angry you get, Xin Shan and Xin Yu are my Beast Husbands. I'll have you know, we already received our markings today under the witness of the Clan Witch.'

Bai Wanwan couldn't even be bothered to listen, her footsteps neither hurried nor slow as she headed home.

She knew very well in her heart that the Clan Chief would never let go of her, this breeding machine.

So this Cat Clan Tribe was not a place for her to stay long-term. Once the Snow Season passed, she would have to find a way to leave.

Being bound to the Childbirth System destined her to be a tool for bearing children, but at the very least, the right to choose for whom she bore them should remain in her own hands.

She entered the house to fetch the bamboo basket and stone basin.

'Xin Feng, I'm going to catch fish. Wait for me at home.'

If it got any colder, the water surface might freeze over. She needed to hurry and catch more. For a while after this, she didn't want to go out.

Because it was simply too cold, and without thermal underwear or a down jacket, she couldn't stand these days.

In the future, she'd probably just have to huddle in the cave every day, warming herself by the fire.

Picking up the tools to leave, she noticed Xin Feng had already walked over and taken the stone basin from her hands.

'At this time, wild beasts come down the mountain to forage. It's not safe. I'll go with you.'

Bai Wanwan glanced at his slightly limping gait, thinking to herself that in his condition, he probably couldn't protect even himself very well.

But meeting his gaze as he turned, the words that left her mouth became, 'Alright, then come with me.'

She matched Xin Feng's pace, deliberately slowing her steps.

The stream behind the mountain hadn't frozen over yet, but the biting cold made Bai Wanwan shiver several times in a row.

How dreadful!

And it wasn't even the coldest time yet, but the water was already bone-chillingly cold.

Fortunately, Beastmen didn't care much for fish and shrimp, dislikeing them for having little meat and too many bones, so the river was teeming with them.

Even someone like her, with no real skill or agility, could catch one with every scoop.

But being too pleased with herself, her foot slipped, and she nearly plunged headfirst into the cold water.

Thankfully, an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling with force, yanking her already tilting body back.

She patted her chest. 'That scared me! If it weren't for you, I would have fallen in.'

Xin Feng could also see that the Little Female was particularly afraid of the cold. He kept his arm around her waist, not letting go. With a gentle exertion, he lifted her from the Riverside to the inner side.

'Go rest. I'll do it.'

Taking the basket from her hand, he walked to the bank and began scooping fish.

Bai Wanwan simply sat on the Stone Stool by the bank, watching him scoop fish with his stiffened leg.

Clearly injured and with inconvenient movement in his leg, she didn't know how he had managed to pull her back with one arm just now and even place her directly on the inner side.

Propping her cheek on one hand, she directed him, 'Xin Feng, there's a school to your side, behind you.'

Xin Feng immediately turned to scoop.

Working in tandem like this, Xin Feng soon filled the basin with fish and shrimp.

'Enough, enough. It's completely full.'

Xin Feng turned his head. That face, where beauty and ugliness collided to an extreme, seemed coated in a layer of radiance under the sunlight.

'You like eating them. This isn't enough. I'll accompany you again tomorrow.'

His voice was very gentle. Bai Wanwan stared at his face, her heart inexplicably skipping a beat.

She subconsciously touched her chest and muttered, 'How strange...'

While she was lost in thought, Xin Feng had already walked over with a slight limp, squatting down by the stone basin, intending to hoist it onto his shoulder.

Bai Wanwan quickly got up and ran over. 'Let me try.'

She couldn't let a patient do everything.

But the moment she tried, it became awkward. She could carry the empty stone basin.

But this stone basin filled with fish and shrimp? She couldn't lift it!

'I'll do it.'

'You're injured. Carrying something this heavy, what if it gets worse?'

Her expression was extremely conflicted, but in an instant, she made a decision.

Placing both hands on the stone basin, she prepared to pour some of the fish and shrimp out.

But just as she began this action, Xin Feng's hands had already swiftly taken hold of the stone basin. With a slight exertion, he lifted it onto his shoulder.

Bai Wanwan was startled and quickly stood up to stop him.

'Don't be reckless! If your injury worsens, you'll be confined to bed and won't be coming out with me anymore.'

Xin Feng shook his head. 'The injury is on my leg. Using my arms is fine.'

After speaking, he started walking, carrying the stone basin.

Bai Wanwan, alarmed, hurried to keep up. Watching him, apart from his somewhat slow walk, he wasn't flushed or out of breath, seeming truly unbothered.

She couldn't help but admire the physical constitution of Male Beastmen.

And this was with his Talent destroyed. His recovery ability was still this fast, and his stamina seemed better than that of an ordinary man.

If his Talent were restored, how formidable would he be?

Before, she had worried that moving around so much while injured would lead to hidden ailments.

But seeing him recover so quickly, she couldn't be bothered to say anything more.

Humans and Beastmen couldn't be compared. Using her previous understanding to judge was simply invalid.

Quickening her pace a couple of steps, she walked alongside him.

'Was last night's roasted meat delicious?'

Xin Feng looked at her smiling, curved eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting as well. 'Mhm, delicious.'

'Later, I'll roast some fish and shrimp for you. Even more fragrant!' She coaxed him, making herself crave it too.

'Alright, I'll listen to you.'

Xin Feng spoke little. It was mostly Bai Wanwan chattering away, but he always managed to harmoniously interject a sentence or two.

Chatting as they walked, they returned to the outside of the cave. Bai Wanwan's cheerful voice abruptly stopped.

She stared at the uninvited guest who had appeared in her cave. 'What are you doing here?'